Illegitimate cognitive enhancers refer to prescription drugs (PCEs)—such as modafinil, Adderall, or Ritalin—used off-label by healthy individuals to improve focus, memory, or mental stamina. Though often more potent than common stimulants, their use outside of medical supervision is socially controversial and legally restricted. These enhancers raise ethical concerns around fairness, coercion, and authenticity, and are often viewed as unnatural or performance-cheating despite their functional similarities to accepted substances.